STAY STILL UNTIL GOD MOVES YOU

It is vain thought to flee from the work that God appoints us, for the sake of finding a greater blessing, instead of seeking it where alone it is to be found-in loving obedience. –Eliot

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Psalm 37:23

Someone once said, "If you do not have clear direction in which way to go—stay put." In other words, don’t do anything. Just remain still and know He is God. Wait on His shutting of the door or His opening of another. Pray for direction. Seek godly counsel. It is in this patient walk with the Lord that you will find joy that passes all understanding!

PAYING A HIGH PRICE FOR LOW LIVING

SIN WILL ALWAYS TAKE YOU FARTHER THAN YOU WANTED TO GO.

SIN WILL ALWAYS KEEP YOU LONGER THAN YOU WANTED TO STAY.

SIN WILL ALWAYS COST YOU MORE THAN YOU INTENDED TO PAY.

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Proverbs 28:13

I know a few men that have lived this low life and paid a high price doing it! A father sexually abusing his children, a missionary running off with a choir member, a pastor having an adulterous relationship with a young lady he was counseling; all these men, succumbed to low living and paid a high price doing so. Each one losing what they had invested in. Each one losing what God had given. Each one sacrificed God’s best for Satan’s counterfeit. But do not think you’re above it friend because each one of us can and will fall if we do not recognize the dangers of sin.

What are we do? Turn to Jesus; confessing and forsaking sin. Then we shall have mercy!

WHAT ARE YOU USING YOUR MOUTH FOR?

The tongue blessing God without the heart is but a tinkling cymbal; the heart blessing God without the tongue is sweet but still music; both in concert make the harmony which fills and delights heaven and earth. --R. Venning

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. Hebrews 13:15

I like the verse that says, “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so”!  We have times of testimony in church and often I sit there listening how the Lord has worked in other people’s lives. Not because I don’t have anything to say but because I really enjoy hearing Brothers and Sisters in Christ praise our Saviour! It’s better than the greatest Choir singing with the Greatest Symphony backing it up!

GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH!

Church— a sanctuary for the weary soul.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

The days are long, the nights are longer. You have hit the rock bottom in a world that just doesn’t care. Where do you turn? Where do you go? You go to the ever abiding Solid Rock—Jesus! Take your weary soul to church this morning and get the rest you are looking for. Quit trying everything else and go to the only place where you will find help—church!

IT IS ENOUGH

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105

A young Christian packing his bag for a journey said to a friend, "I have nearly finished packing. All I have to put in are a guidebook, a lamp, a mirror, a microscope, a telescope, a volume of fine poetry, a few biographies, a package of old letters, a book of songs, a sword, a hammer, and a set of tools." "But you cannot put all that into your bag," objected the friend. "Oh, yes," said the Christian. "Here it is." And he placed his Bible in the corner of the suitcase and closed the lid. –Anonymous

God’s Word is enough to save. (Jesus, through the preaching of His Word, convicts hearts and saves the sinner from hell.) 1 Corinthians 1:21

God’s Word is enough to sanctify. (Jesus, through the preaching and teaching of His Word, cleans us up and makes us fit for His use.) John 17:19

God’s Word is enough to provoke us to serve. (Jesus, through the preaching of His Word, provokes us unto good works. Not to be saved but to show that we are saved.) James 2:20

God’s Word is enough to secure. (Jesus, through the preaching of His Word, gives us the sweet assurance of security in Him.) Hebrews 10:22

God’s Word is enough to supply. (Jesus, through the preaching of His Word, meets every need we have.) 2 Corinthians 3:5

TAKE A LITTLE JOY WHEREVER YOU GO TODAY!

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. Psalm 95:2

Challenge today…put a smile on your face and rejoice in what Jesus has done for you! It will not only change your life but the lives of those who you live with, work with, and even shop with. You can make a difference in someone’s life just by rejoicing in the God of your salvation!  

JUST GO!

GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO THE LOST, DYING, and HURTING WORLD with the GOSPEL! 

Missions- not just a program but it is the program of the church!- Dr. Don Sisk

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15

What keeps you from telling your co-workers about Jesus? What’s stopping you from telling your best friend Jesus Saved you? Why will you not tell the cashier about Jesus? Are you ashamed? 

Let me remind you of 1 verse from last night's message:

“In thee, O Lord , do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.” PSALM 31:1

BE ON THE LOOKOUT!

Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Ezekiel 3:17-18

While I was in the Navy we had to stand watch. It was a 4 hour shift to visit each one of our spaces aboard ship. We would take air conditioning and refrigeration readings, check for leaks in pump rooms, and ensure the safety of the crew. If not for the roaming watch, the ship could’ve been compromised or a catastrophe could’ve taken place.

Christian, God has placed you on watch. He has called you to roam around this plant warning those in danger of hell fire. He has placed you in your area of service to proclaim the Gospel with your life and your mouth. If you do not step up and speak up the blood of those whom God has given you to disciple will be on your hands.

Lord, help us today be the witness of Jesus Christ we need to be. Give us someone we can share the Good News of the Gospel with and let us be on the lookout for those nearest to hell!

CONFUSED

When men surrender themselves to the Spirit of God, they will learn more concerning God and Christ and the Atonement and Immortality in a week, than they would learn in a lifetime, apart from the Spirit. –Brown

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 1 Corinthians 2:9

Many sit in a pew each week not understanding what the Sunday School teacher or Preacher is talking about. They sit there nodding their heads not in agreement but with a “whatever” attitude trying to make people think they are okay. All the while they are empty on the inside.

You see they will never truly understand the Word of God until they, by faith, have received Jesus as Saviour. It is only by the Spirit of God that they will have ears to hear, eyes to see, and a heart to do.

Have you asked Jesus to save you? If not, that’s why you sit on a pew confused! 1 John 5:13, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

SOLD OUT OR SCARED

If I had three hundred men who feared nothing but God, hated nothing but sin, and were determined to know nothing among men but Jesus Christ and Him crucified, I would set the world on fire. --John Wesley

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

There are many people thinking they are saved and on their way to heaven but they have never totally sold out to Him. They prayed a prayer and thought, shew—now I’m good, I can go living my life the way I want to. That’s not the way it works! If you prayed a prayer thinking that’s all it was to it… you missed the boat.

It’s time to do a check-up. It’s time to GET UP, GET READY, and GO BACK TO CHURCH to have a follow up visit with the Lord. Don’t be scared, sell out to Jesus! It will be the best visit you have ever made! 

FOR SALE

Many say they’re not for sale…their lifestyle says otherwise.

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Mark 8:36

There is guest inside your home that proclaims worst vulgarity than a drunken sailor. It has told some of the dirtiest jokes, portrayed violent murders, and tells lies nonstop. You invited this guest into your home many years ago, centered your home on it, and it has become time waster number one. We have said we couldn’t live without it but yet we should cut ties of it and chunk it out the door. We would never let someone come up into our homes and speak the way it does. We would never let death be portrayed in such gruesome manner. And if our children told the lies that the TV proclaims, we would wash their mouths out with soap. And yet, we pay to have our souls impacted with such wickedness and then wonder why our kids leave the church.

Which kid will you sell in order for you to watch your favorite TV show? Is it really worth it?

Reverential Fear, a must need in today’s society

I fear God, and next to God I chiefly fear him who fears Him not. --Saadia Ben Joseph

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7

Fear” is the prevalent attitude in today’s society. While to some degree it may be honorable, it is a dangerous way to live your life. If you do not have a reverential fear of the Lord that gives you the air you breathe, the food you eat, and can save your wretched soul, you my friend are standing in a dangerous place.

My CPA, a Christian man, recently shared with my wife and I, “You can know how much someone fears the Lord by doing a survey of their checkbook and their calendar.” Man that sure is the truth! Where you spend your money and time speaks volumes as to how much you fear the Lord. 

If I were to see your calendar or your tax returns what would they reveal about your life?

SAVED TO SERVE

There are many of us that are willing to do great things for the Lord, but few of us are willing to do little things. –Moody

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. Galatians 5:13

How prepared are you to serve others? Has the Lord given you a Sunday School Class you take for granted having the opinion, “I’ll wing it”? God hasn’t “winged” anything for us. He has with purpose and design planned what is best for your life. So why would you not put forth your best when He has given you His?

PRIDE FAILS…PREACHING PREVAILS

When a proud man thinks best of himself, then God and man think worst of him. –Smith

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

If there is one area anyone having any type of success in life needs to beware of is in this area of pride. We need to be reminded that without the Lord’s grace and mercy extended to us we would not even be able tie our own shoes!

We deserve hell but Jesus is the way to Heaven and has made Himself available to all. We deserved death but in Jesus is life and He has offered Himself to all. We believe man's lies but He is the Truth and has made Himself available to all. We don’t deserve the oxygen we breathe and we take it for granted but God freely gives it so those that are lost might come to Him and those that are saved might use that oxygen to breathe His name in praise, prayer, and propagation of the Gospel!

SURGERY IS NECESSARY!

Christ and we will never be one until we and our sin are two. –Spurgeon

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Hebrews 12:1

You want to have God’s blessings on your life—cut out sin! You want to have peace that passes all understanding—cut out sin! You want to have life and have in more abundant—cut out sin! Child of God in order for you and I to live a life honoring and glorifying to God we are going to have to deal with the sin issues in our life! How? Confess and repent— allow the Lord to do surgery on your heart!

REJOICE, IT’S MONDAY!

Those that make God their Joy may rejoice in hope for he is faithful that has promised. -Henry

This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

Yes, it’s Monday again and we ought to rejoice on this day just as much as we did yesterday. We have the same opportunities today to worship Him, praise Him, and share Him as we did yesterday. Why not start this week off right by giving a testimony of what He did yesterday and continue each day this week by doing the same?

Yes, you can share it right here:

PRIORITY ONE

A church is a hospital for sinners, not a club for saints.

I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. Psalm 122:1

When you have set the Lord as a priority one in your life you will do everything with your power to get to where He enjoys us going every time the doors are open- Church. Not only that but you will promote the Church to your friends, you will proclaim the message of the Church declares to a lost, dying, and hurting world, you will protect the Church from the enemy, and when you have God’s heart throb as priority one, you will: GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH today!

WHEN DOING GOOD ISN’T ENOUGH

What can wash away my sins, nothing but the blood of Jesus…

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

We need more people doing good in the neighborhoods across America. From picking up trash along the roads to helping our elderly neighbor cut some bushes we need more people thinking less of themselves and more about others. Investing a little time in your community will go a long way.

While doing good will go a long way, it will not get anyone to Heaven. We can never do or be good enough to make our way to Heaven. Scripture says, “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags”. There is only one way to Heaven and Jesus said He was the way. Not a way or one of the ways but The Way. So if you are living life doing good just remember doing good isn’t enough to get you to Heaven! You must repent and “…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

IF YOU’RE HAPPY AND YOU KNOW IT SAY AMEN!

So many things to say thank you for but so little time to say it…

Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; Psalm 107:2

The longer we serve the Lord we ought to be compiling a list of things He has done for us. To name a few things: our salvation, our spouse, our home, our children, our job, and even our church. These are gifts from the Lord and they make me happy so I will say…AMEN!